Breakthrough infections can lead to long COVID: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/07/28/breakthrough-covid-19-infections-can-lead-long-term-symptoms-study/5399083001/ . Though cases are rare, this finding is more fodder for vaccine skeptics.
COVID spread “exponential” in Louisiana: https://news.yahoo.com/louisiana-doctor-says-exponential-surge-140244811.html .
WSJ: Rethinking the contagiousness of the Delta variant: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-delta-variant-is-more-contagious-heres-what-it-means-for-you-11627473901 .
WSJ: Pfizer vaccine protection drops over time: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-vaccines-protection-against-covid-19-declines-after-six-months-but-remains-high-11627508816 .
Science leads to CDC revised masking guidance: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/28/health/us-coronavirus-wednesday/index.html . Specifically, the CDC is now worried about transmission by vaccinated persons having breakthrough cases.
Science leads to mask mandate in House: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/28/politics/nancy-pelosi-kevin-mccarthy-mask-mandate/index.html . Kevin McCarthy now officially named the Rodney Dangerfield of the House, because he will never get any respect.
Defense Department mandates masks indoors: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/defense-department-now-requires-masks-indoors-regardless-of-vaccination-status/ar-AAMGfYt?li=BBnb7Kz .
White House enters challenging phase of COVID fight: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/565343-biden-enters-challenging-stretch-in-coronavirus-fight . It does seem to be time for the FDA to grant full approval to some of the vaccines, certainly Pfizer and Moderna. However, this may not change many minds among the unvaccinated. What it might do is encourage more employers and schools to mandate COVID vaccination.
Expiration of eviction moratorium may reinforce COVID surge: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eviction-moratorium-expires-housing-advocates-fear-another-coronavirus-wave/ . The length of the existing moratorium just continues to magnify the problems when it ends. The only way out of this particular problem is higher vaccination rates.
WSJ: Emergent to restart production of J&J vaccine at Baltimore plant: https://www.wsj.com/articles/j-j-contractor-plans-to-resume-covid-19-vaccine-production-at-troubled-baltimore-plant-11627528043 .
WSJ: Is COVID in the past for the US economy?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-keeps-resurging-but-western-economies-are-adapting-11627491835 . The reasoning in this article is not a match with the evidence. It is true that wide vaccination among older Americans should reduce mortality as a percentage of cases going forward. But obviously, mortality is not the only factor in COVID’s effect on the economy. An unvaccinated person today is at more risk from the Delta variant than they were a year ago from the original strain. Global supply chain disruption will continue.
COVID wave in the Americas: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/28/covid-19-still-has-a-devastating-toll-on-the-americas-paho .
COVID wave in Europe: https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-coronavirus-cases-restrictions-summer-2021-wave/ . What does “surfing the wave” even mean relative to COVID? Poor headline, but good information.
England scraps quarantine for fully vaccinated US and EU visitors: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/28/england-scraps-quarantine-for-fully-vaccinated-eu-us-visitors . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/england-to-open-up-to-vaccinated-american-travelers-11627480500 . Given the latest information on transmission in asymptomatic cases, this again feels like a too-early re-opening.
Australia extends Sydney lockdown by 4 weeks: https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-digest-sydney-extends-lockdown-by-four-weeks/a-58668248 . Australia’s travel restrictions were a good plan for an “island nation”. However, it is hard to understand why they have not rolled out vaccination more rapidly.
WSJ: Global chip shortage hits Apple and Tesla: https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-tesla-to-take-hit-from-chip-shortage-a-sign-of-problems-intensity-11627474416 .
Infrastructure bill agreed by Senate negotiators, debate starts Wednesday evening: https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/28/politics/infrastructure-bill-republican-vote/index.html . The vote to begin debate was 67-32. This suggests there are enough Republican votes to get to 60 total to pass the Senate. The American public is strongly in favor of additional infrastructure spending (over 80%). Here’s what’s in the bill: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/28/fact-sheet-historic-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal/ . Note that the clean water, environmental remediation and power grid investments will all have a positive impact on the health of the public. More: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/28/biden-infrastructure-bipartisan-win-501463 . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/infrastructure-agreement-on-major-issues-reached-by-bipartisan-group-gop-negotiator-says-11627487459 .
ITF FINALLY alters Olympics tennis schedule: https://nz.news.yahoo.com/itf-alters-olympic-tennis-schedule-after-multiple-complaints-about-tokyos-extreme-heat-122212853.html . This comes too late for several players’ Olympic dreams. More: https://news.yahoo.com/daniil-medvedev-paula-badosa-tokyo-heat-wreaks-havoc-tennis-054902733.html .
ZZ Top’s Dusty Hill passes: https://variety.com/2021/music/news/zz-top-bassist-dusty-hill-dead-dies-1235029656/ . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/zz-tops-dusty-hill-dies-at-72-11627512591 .